What is BMI?

BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) is a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) in the United States that collects and distributes performance royalties to songwriters, composers, and music publishers. It is known for representing a large catalog of music across many genres.

The organization licenses music for public performance in places such as radio, television, streaming platforms, live venues, and businesses, ensuring that music users pay for the right to use copyrighted works.

BMI emphasizes accessibility and broad representation, offering open membership to songwriters and publishers, unlike some invitation-only organizations.

It tracks how music is performed and played, then distributes royalties to its members based on usage data.

Today, BMI is one of the largest PROs in the world, valued for its role in protecting music rights, collecting royalties, and supporting creators across the industry.